Validity and Reliability of a New Device (WIMU®) for Measuring Hamstring Muscle Extensibility

The aims of the current study were 1) to evaluate the validity of the WIMU (R) system for measuring hamstring muscle extensibility in the passive straight leg raise (PSLR) test using an inclinometer for the criterion and 2) to determine the test-retest reliability of the WIMU (R) system to measure hamstring muscle extensibility during the PSLR test. 55 subjects were evaluated on 2 separate occasions. Data from a Unilever inclinometer and WIMU (R) system were collected simultaneously. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) for the validity were very high (0.983-1); a very low systematic bias (-0.21 degrees- -0.42 degrees), random error (0.05 degrees -0.04 degrees) and standard error of the estimate (0.43 degrees -0.34 degrees) were observed (left-right leg, respectively) between the 2 devices (inclinometer and the WIMU (R) system). The R-2 between the devices was 0.999 (p < 0.001) in both the left and right legs. The test-retest reliability of the WIMU (R) system was excellent, with ICCs ranging from 0.972-0.995, low coefficients of variation (0.01 %), and a low standard error of the estimate (0.19-0.31 degrees). The WIMU (R) system showed strong concurrent validity and excellent test-retest reliability for the evaluation of hamstring muscle extensibility in the PSLR test.